Method and installation for low-temperature pyrolysis of rubber products, steel/rubber composites, and use of the pyrolysis products

Abstract

The invention relates to an industrial low-temperature pyrolysis method of the separation of steel-rubber or similar composite products for recovering carbon granulate, pyrolysis oil, residual gas and metallic components. The solution is characterized by the fact that the method is practiced without pressure and without inert media and that a discontinuous charge operation may be performed. The products of the pyrolysis are of especial advantage for use in the production of energy as well as as starter materials for synthesizing processes. The carbon granulate produced in accordance with the invention may be processed to insulating building material as well as adsorption agent for fighting oil accidents. Moreover, it can be used for improving soil by storing water and nutrients and as a fire extinguishing agent.

1 . A method of low-temperature pyrolysis of rubber products, steel-rubber-composites and the like, hereinafter called input materials ( 1 ), for recovering carbon granulate, pyrolysis oil, residual gas and, where applicable, metallic components, which is practiced discontinuously and comprises the following method steps: 
 a) washing ( 3 ) and cutting up ( 3 ) of the input materials ( 1 );    b) drying ( 4 ) the input materials;    c) charging the reaction container ( 7 ) with the input materials ( 1 ) treated according to a) and b);    d) executing the pyrolysis method;    e) cooling ( 10 ) of the reaction container ( 7 );    f) separating the solid reaction products, such as iron proportions ( 31 ) and carbon granulate proportions ( 30 );    g) follow-up cutting up of the carbon granulate ( 30 ) to a predetermined diameter;    with the method being practiced without pressure and without inert materials and that the pyrolysis method of method step d) consists of    A a preheating phase ( 8 ) of the reaction containers ( 7 );    B a heating phase of the furnace chamber of the pyrolysis furnace ( 9 ) with the reaction containers ( 7 ) in several stages at different temperatures with variable dwell times and    C a reaction phase in the reaction container ( 7 ) at a reaction temperature which, depending on the input materials and the products to be produced, varies in the range between 350° C. to 500° C., with    D the input materials ( 1 ) are selected by charge depending upon the nature of the starter materials and the desired end products and are correspondingly processed in a temperature range from 350° C. to 500° C.    
   
   
       2 . The method in accordance with  claim 1 ,  
     characterized by the fact that the pyrolysis gas ( 32 ) is removed from the pyrolysis process and cooled with a pyrolysis oil ( 33 ) being recovered from the condensable component of the pyrolysis gas ( 32 ) and a waste gas ( 34 ) being recovered from the non-condensable component of the pyrolysis gas ( 32 ).  
   
   
       3 . The method in accordance with  claim 2 ,  
     characterized by the fact that the process heat is in part obtained from the combustion of the waste gas ( 32 ) and/or of the pyrolysis oil ( 33 ).  
   
   
       4 . The method in accordance with  claim 3 ,  
     characterized by the fact that the course of heating of the input material ( 1 ) in the reaction container ( 7 ) takes place according to predetermined control curves which by a continuous comparison of the target and actual values provide a computer-assisted control of the energy supply.  
   
   
       5 . The method in accordance with  claim 4 ,  
     characterized by the fact that the heating of the furnace chamber of the pyrolysis furnace ( 9 ) takes place in about 30 min and that the reaction time in the reaction container ( 7 ) is about 2.5 h.  
   
   
       6 . A system for practicing the method in accordance with  claim 1 ,  
     characterized by the combination of the following system components: 
 a) a washing facility ( 2 ) for the input materials ( 1 );  
 b) a shredder unit ( 3 ) for cutting up of the washed input materials ( 1 );  
 c) a drying facility ( 4 ) for the washed and cut up input materials ( 1 ) whereby the drying facility ( 4 ) may be operated by excess heats from the heat recovery of the production process (pyrolysis method);  
 d) a conveyor facility ( 5 ) for transporting the dried input materials ( 1 ) into a storage container (Silo) ( 6 ), charging of the reaction containers ( 7 ) being carried out from the storage container ( 6 );  
 e) A transport facility for transporting the charged reaction containers ( 7 ) to the preheater ( 4 ) and, further, to the pyrolysis furnace ( 9 );  
 f) a pyrolysis furnace ( 9 ) for receiving and process-technologically treating the reaction container ( 7 ), whereby carbon ( 30 ), Iron ( 31 ), pyrolysis gas ( 32 ) and pyrolysis oil ( 33 ) as well as waste gases ( 34 ) are produced;  
 g) a facility ( 10 ) for the defined cooling of the reaction containers ( 7 );  
 h) a facility ( 12 ) for the dust-free emptying of the opened reaction containers ( 7 ) at low pressure;  
 I) a facility ( 13 ) for separating iron ( 31 ) and carbon ( 30 );  
 k) a facility ( 14 ) for cutting up or granulating carbon ( 30 );  
 l) a central control system for monitoring and controlling the interfaces in the sequence of the process.  
 
   
   
       7 . The system in accordance with  claim 6 ,  
     characterized by the fact that following the dust-free emptying of a reaction containers ( 7 ) the reaction container ( 7 ) is returned ( 15 ) for renewed charging and insertion into the production process.  
   
   
       8 . The system in accordance with  claim 7 ,  
     characterized by the fact that cut up or granulated carbon ( 3 ) in an encapsulated technology is stored in an intermediate container and from it in a dust-free manner in a silo ( 16 ).  
   
   
       9 . The system in accordance with  claim 8 ,  
     characterized by the fact that the pyrolysis furnace ( 9 ) with appurtenant reaction container ( 7 ) are structured as a car tunnel kiln ( 9 . 1 ) or shaft furnace ( 9 . 2 ).